Coach Bob hosts 2024 re-election campaign kickoff event at Ybor City's Columbia Restaurant Museum
March 8, 2024
Thanks to numerous volunteers and a strong Host Committee, Bob "Coach" Henriquez held a tremendously successful and entertaining Re-Election Campaign Kickoff Reception on March 7th at the magnificent Columbia Restaurant Museum in Ybor City.
Several hundred guests attended the event, including Richard Gonzmart, who is the second great-grandson of Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., the founder of the world-famous Columbia Restaurant. The Columbia Restaurant Museum contains invaluable collectibles and artworks from the 119-year-old landmark restaurant and the Gonzmart Family.
The evening featured multiple guest speakers who are once again endorsing Coach Bob's re-election campaign. Guests enjoyed a selection of the Columbia's incredible food, as well as musical entertainment and, of course, Coach Bob speaking about his 2024 campaign and highlights of what he and his team have achieved serving as Hillsborough County Property appraiser these past 11 years.
To see photos from the evening's festivities, visit Coach Bob's re-election Facebook page.
Henriquez identifies key challenges in property assessment for 2024
January 10, 2024
One of the biggest challenges for my office is the increasing complexity of property values. In the past, property values were relatively simple to determine, as most properties were similar in size and location. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend towards diversification and complexity in property types, locations and new or re-developing neighborhoods. This has created intricate challenges to develop accurate assessment models.
Another challenge is the increasing availability of data. Before I took office in 2013, assessors had limited access to data on property values. However, with the advent of new technologies that my office has helped develop, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) modeling and machine learning, assessors now have access to a far wider range of data. This can be a double-edged sword, as it can be difficult to manage and interpret large amounts of data.
Finally, there has been unprecedented growth in property values and as a result, non-homestead properties have seen an increase in property taxes. Assessors need to be able to communicate effectively with the public about the assessment process in order to build trust and credibility, and I believe our office strives to do that.
In addition to the challenges mentioned above, there are a number of other factors that can affect the accuracy of mass property assessments. These include:
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The quality of the data and modeling used to develop the assessment models.
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The availability of resources to conduct assessments.
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The expertise and experience of the assessors.
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The ability to interpret the nuances of unique properties, including residential, commercial and tangible.
Despite these challenges, the experience and leadership in my office will offer the most reliable, fair and equitable property assessment possible. By ensuring that property values are assessed fairly, governments can ensure that property taxes are equitable and that they are able to raise the revenue they need to provide essential services for our community.